Ordinance No. 6222

Reduce Constraints on Housing by Decreasing the Minimum Parcel Size for Accessory Dwelling Units

Adopted May 8, 2018

Ordinance no. 6222 an ordinance of the Board of Supervisors, County of Sonoma, state of California, amending chapter 26 of the Sonoma county code to reduce constraints on housing by decreasing the minimum parcel size for accessory dwelling units when on public or community water, increasing the maximum size of accessory dwelling units from 1,000 square feet to 1,200 square feet, and making other minor changes.

The Board of Supervisors of the County of Sonoma, State of California, ordains as follows:

The Board finds and declares that the adoption of this Ordinance is necessary to expand opportunities for development of additional housing in unincorporated areas of Sonoma County. The Board finds that the following facts support the adoption of this ordinance:

1. The proposed amendments to Chapter 26 (Zoning Code) are consistent with the Sonoma County General Plan and all applicable specific plans and further the goals, objectives, and policies of the General Plan; and
2. Sonoma County’s current rental vacancy rate is less than 1.5%, further exacerbating the difficulty of providing safe and secure housing that is affordable for lower-income families and for people who are homeless; and,
3. Government Code section 65852.2 authorizes local governments,including the County, to adopt zoning ordinances that provide for accessory dwelling units up to 1,200 square feet in size, and further provides that an ADU that conforms to section 65852.2 shall not be considered to exceed the allowable density for the lot upon which it is located, and shall be deemed to be a residential use that is consistent with the existing general plan and zoning designations for the lot.

Section 26-88-060 (Accessory Dwelling Units) is amended as set forth in Exhibit A. 

The Board of Supervisors hereby finds and declares that project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to Public Resources Code § 21080.17 (statutory exemption for ordinances implementing Gov. Code § 65852.2 regarding accessory dwelling units). SECTION IV. If any part of this Ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid, unlawful, or unconstitutional, such invalidity, unlawfulness or unconstitutionality shall not affect the validity, lawfulness, or constitutionality of any other part of this Ordinance.

If any part of this Ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid, unlawful, or unconstitutional, such invalidity, unlawfulness or unconstitutionality shall not affect the validity, lawfulness, or constitutionality of any other part of this Ordinance.

This Ordinance shall be and the same is hereby declared to be in full force and effect on and after 30 days following its passage, and shall be published once before the expiration of fifteen (15) days after passage, with the names of the Supervisors voting for or against the same, in a newspaper of general circulation, published in the County of Sonoma, State of California

In Regular Session of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Sonoma, introduced, passed, and adopted on the 8th of May, 2018, on regular roll call of the members of said Board by the following vote:

Supervisors:

Gorin: Aye
Rabbit: Aye
Zane: Aye  
Hopkins: Abstain
Gore: Aye

Ayes: 4
Noes: 0
Absent: 0
Abstain: 1

So Ordered.

Whereupon, the Chair declared the above foregoing Ordinance duly adopted 

Attest: Chair, Board of Supervisors County of Sonoma, Sheryl Bratton, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors